Santa Fe, NM
Dry Eye Specialist
Santa Fe, NM
Dry Eye Specialist
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Are your eyes constantly dry and irritated? You may have dry eye syndrome. Many people suffer from this condition without realizing that it can damage their eyes. At our dry eye center in Santa Fe, our eye doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating dry eye to help you find relief and maintain optimal eye health.
What is dry eye?
Dry eye, also known as dry eye syndrome and dry eye disease, happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears or when your tears evaporate too quickly. If left untreated, dry eye can impact your quality of life and even affect your vision over time. Dry eye can be a chronic condition, but our eye doctors can recommend treatment to manage symptoms and keep your eyes healthy and comfortable.
What are the symptoms of dry eye?
Symptoms of dry eye disease may include:
- Eye discomfort or pain
- Burning or stinging
- Itchy, red eyes
- Excessive tearing
- Trouble wearing contact lenses
- A gritty feeling in the eyes
- Blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
What causes dry eye?
Many factors can contribute to dry eye, including age, hormonal changes, environmental conditions (such as windy or dry climates), certain medications and medical conditions, and too much screen time. One of the leading causes of dry eye is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD occurs when the tiny glands in your eyelids become clogged or inflamed. These glands produce an oil called meibum that coats the surface of your eyes and keeps your tears from evaporating too quickly. When these glands aren’t working properly, your tears dry out faster, resulting in dry eye.
How do you diagnose dry eye?
At Ultimate Eyecare Santa Fe, our eye doctors can diagnose dry eye and a range of other issues during a comprehensive eye exam. We use advanced diagnostic technology like the LipiScan Dynamic Meibomian Imager to look for signs of dry eye disease. This cutting-edge device captures high-resolution images of your meibomian glands, allowing us to identify any blockages or abnormalities that may be causing your dry eye symptoms. We can also use these images to monitor the progress of treatment over time. By comparing images from different appointments, we can see how well your meibomian glands respond to treatment and adjust as needed.
Treating dry eye in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Our dry eye specialists may recommend different treatments for dry eye depending on the underlying cause and severity. We may suggest artificial tears for milder cases, which are lubricating eye drops that help decrease the dry, scratchy feeling in your eyes.
For more severe cases, our eye doctors might recommend alternative treatments like eye masks or prescription eye drops. We also offer the following treatments for dry eye in our Santa Fe office:
LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System
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Zocular Eyelid System Treatment (ZEST)
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Schedule a dry eye exam in Santa Fe, NM
With the right treatment, you can manage dry eye symptoms and improve your overall eye health. If you’re diagnosed with dry eye, our team will recommend personalized treatment to fit your unique needs. Contact us today to schedule a dry eye exam in Santa Fe and find a treatment plan that works best for you.
Eye Exams
Comprehensive eye care goes beyond a glasses prescription or contact lenses and meets the needs for all primary eye care treatments.